Top Fantasy Books and Series
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Excelent thanks, at my blog we are trying to create a scifi and fantasy book club and I’m looking for this kind of advice
Hey I LOVE dark fantasy and would appreciate a new series to loose myself in. How can I view your blog?
Malazan Book of falen is my best saga. Wonderful readings.
Hi everybody. I am a fan from Poland. I love Wiedzmin (Witcher) series. Highly recommended to every serious fantasy fan! By the way great blog.
hmmmmmm all the 10 books has a great story in it. But i like most is… the number one “LORD OF THE RINGS”…
I like marvelous Thieves’ World.
Is Thieves World a top one seller ever?
What about Discworld?
The Discworld is the fictional setting for all of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld fantasy novels. It consists of a large disc (complete with edge-of-the-world drop-off and consequent waterfall) resting on the backs of four huge elephants which are in turn standing on the back of an enormous turtle, named Great A’Tuin.A very nice book to read also…:)
I recommend Malazan books. Awesome ride!
The Hobbit is lovely.
What, no Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind? Wizards First rule is one of the best fantasy books I’ve ever read…
After the fourth book, Goodkind got terribly preachy and repetitive; there wasn’t a plot in there that wasn’t about Richard getting Kahlan back from one thing or another. That series could have been fantastic if he only had an editor with enough backbone to challenge him, but as it is, it lost steam rapidly and fatally. I normally keep books and re-read them, I sold the entire set off when I finished it, I was so disappointed.
Sir never have I agreed with an internet comment more than now I salute you! Also thanks for the list. I got into fantasy with Wheel of time and have since read many others but none have the same pit as lotr. I will look for some others on this list thanks
Sorry, but here is space only for 10 sagas:). If i add a next book saga, i will have to remove a previous one. I understand the space is very limited and there are numerous quality fantasy books around. Of course, i must admit, my list is very subjective. I must also agree with Dave above. Start of Sword of Truth was awesome. But it was a pretty boring stuff later. No matter i still love Kahlan:)
what about the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson.
the Mistborn Trilogy by Sanderson was good and I really enjoyed it but if you stop a moment, it’s not the most epic saga ever. It’s good but it’s not the best.
Now, what about Bakker’s Prince of Nothing series, that is something I’d consider good enough to be on here
Good list, but you’re forgetting about The Dark Tower!
In my opinion, The Dark Tower had a sputtering motor from the time it introduced us to Blaine, and had intermittent failures by the end of the Wolves of the Calla. I was at least as tired as Roland going up the stairs in Book 7, but certainly more bored. We WERE left with a startling revelation about how Roland could have gotten so old and how he got these “hunches” of his, though.
Dark Tower was far tighter and more compelling than wheel of time. That was a series that drug on far too long.
I was a slightly amazed to find that Jim Butchers’; Codex Alera series and Terry Pratchet’s ; Discworld series are missing from this list. Shame.
I actually rarely see anyone mention The Black Company, and definitely not so high on the list. I randomly picked this series up after finishing the Sword of Truth series, mostly as a filler until I found something better. Turned out to be one of my favorites. Definitely going go bookmark this list to help me pick out my next saga, after I finish Shannara
My list can be very subjective but i really think the Black Company is an awesome saga.
I totally agree with admin, this saga is absolutly unpredictable, always catching and with no evident failures (and i’ve read it at least 5 times), without mentioning it reflect the true nature of humanity.
(forgive my miss spelling im from a spanish country)
Very nice list and I whole heartily agree with numero uno! But I must say you forgot R.A Salvatore and his series…well, I guess you have a few to pick from so I would push for his Icewind Dale Trilogy then I would choose The Cleric Quintet to start….
HEY!!! You forgot Sword of Truth series.
Wizard’s First Rule
Stone of Tears
Blood of the Fold
Temple of the Winds
Soul of the Fire
Faith of the Fallen
The Pillars of Creation
Naked Empire
Chainfire
Phantom
Confessor and
The Omen Machine
(Also Debt of Bones, a prequel)
I love fantasy series, I grew up on Tolkien, Narnia, and Brian Jacques Redwall series. I havent read too many different series mainly because Its hard for me to get into new ones. I tried to read the Shannara series but after reading the Wheel of Time, Tolkien, and the Dune books I couldnt get past the third book because it jumped all over too much. Robert Jordan is by far my favorite his ability to immerse you in the world he created is wonderful. I see a lot of different series on top ten lists Id like to add some that are missing from a lot.
Symphony of Ages by Elizabeth Hayden
The Dune Series by Frank Herbert (I know its listed as scifi but its more fantasy in my opinion)
I definitelly have to check out the Song of Fire and Ice series Ive been seein that one everywhere and understand it just got a TV series. Id like to read it before live action spoils the imaginative aspect.
Why isn’t the enders game/ enders shadow series on this!!!!!!!!!!!
I would classify Ender’s saga (including Bean’s books) as Sci-fi, not fantasy. Might have something to do with it. And if you’re talking Sci-fi, you’d have to include CJ Cherryh on the list
Not including the Wizard of Earthsea stories? Why?
Earthsea is great. I loked even TV version. If i add Earthsea i will have to remove another saga
. No space for all wonderful books. Sorry.
Discworld is far better than some that u have on your list. But that’s only my opinion though. The Malazan book of the Fallen is by far the best there, but again, only my opinion:)
Highly recommend the Prince of Nothing trilogy by R. Scott Bakker. If you haven’t read it, drop what you’re doing and read it now.
The Prince of Nothing:
The Darkness That Comes Before
The Warrior-Prophet
The Thousandfold Thought
I second this recommendation. A Great “thinking” series. I found it to be an exciting and surprising journey.
You are missing a Series there. Try Reading the Redwall Series by Brian Jacques. THEY are great
Please add The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, it is an amazing series.
What about Small Vampires – http://www.smallvampires.com. New fantasy trilogy, first book (Picus the Thief) out now. I’ve read the Kindle version: dark, perilous, but lots of humour & totally original.
I find it slightly odd that Harry Potter is not on there, nor are the Chronicles of Narnia, both of which have been on the bestseller list multiple times and are some of the most influential fantasy books today.
On a side note, what about Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland? That sure has brought a lot of fame and adaptions, etc.
Best selling does not means BEST
Personally i dont like Harry Potter and i wonder who can like it. My kids are crazy from this crap but i will prefer to show them something better, something more kind without demons and something that will not make their childish world dark and violent.
Francesca, Italy
There are no demons in Harry Potter OR Chronicles of Narnia. You might want to actually sit down and read the books.
What about the Vladimir Taltos books by Steven Brust, or the Xanth novels by Piers Anthony? Or the Incarnations of Immortality by Piers Anthony?
I completely agree with Incarnations of Immortality. This was the series that started my love for fantasy over twenty years ago.
I love book lists, mostly because of the comments section where everyone spouts off a few series that the author ‘forgot to mention’.
Solid choices for your favorite fantasy book list, my friend.
What about the DRAGONLANCE by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. For sure the chronicles trilogy and ledgens are EPIC!
Raistlin rules.
I agree and raise you one fizban.
Mesage to author: Good pick. Ignore suggestions of all freaks mentioning you forgot their favourite saga:)
This list fails primarily because there is no mention of Terry Goodkind’s ‘Sword of Truth’ series. Shameful!
what??? no Harry Potter?
the problem whit harry potter is that even it is so famous (probably cuz the movies were a hit and one of the first wellmade fantasy on big screen, without forgeting that Rowling writes like a god) the plot by itself is not great deal, is just the same good against evil as many others with the tipical hero with doubts and the friends that help, i believe thas why it is not in this list.
It is however only my opinion
Pd: Forgive my miss spelling im from Argentina (Spanish talking country)
Harry Potter???
I’ll the Earthsea cycle would be up there, but otherwise a good list
c’mpn, no terry brooks? he has connected his shanarra? its epic, unending and he has managed to connect our modern world to his fantasy world through an amazing endurance of writing over like 4 decades! then there is also his stand alone books which are just as good! and i agree with others in forum, this list needs some pratchet! otherwise, great list, ive read many of them and agree for the most part. (oh and as a final note, what about anne mccaffrey?)
huh? the Riftwar Saga only??? what about every book with Pug in it? or anything with Midkemia or Kelewan for that matter…
please update!
No earthsea cycle? Seriously?
I am wondering about you leaving out Chronicles of Narnia; Redwall; and of the more recent fantasy, how about the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik? For those unfamiliar …. Think the Napoleonic Wars. great battles on the high seas …. with dragons as air support. Yes, it works incredibly well; if Anne McCaffrey (of the Dragonriders series) and Patrick O’Brian (Master and Commander) got together and wrote a series together, this would be it. And these are dragons like NOTHING you have ever run across before. The first three in the series are the best but she is currently up to 6, with more on the way.
Okay why hasn’t anybody mentioned the classic Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams or the great new series by Patrick Rothfuss The Kingkiller Chronicles. I also wouldn’t discount “childrens books” like His Dark Materials trilogy. But I suppose to each their own and there is alot of great series to choose from.
David Edding’s Pawn of Prophecy in the Belgariad series is FANTASTIC. GREAT STORY, adventure, and watching a boy grow into a king, with PLENTY of fighting, laughs, and sadness.
PERFECT Summer read
DRAGONLANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE Wheel of Time! I would suggest Brent Weeks’ Night Angel Trilogy.
Wheel of Time? Man, one of the most boring series I ever read.
Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet’s Good Omens are pretty good. They have a great way of writing together. Love it:)
Tolkiens teacher is never mentioned.
Robert E Howard.
The Deed of Paksenarrion Novels are also great